What are the prerequisites for living a full life? Is it health?, Money?, or family? Yes ,probably they all play a part but I think attitude plays plays the lead role.
I first realized I was different from other children when I was about 6 or 7 years old. My parents had planned a Christmas trip to Port Harcourt , to visit one of my uncles, and I had been looking forward to that trip for what seemed like ages.
However , we ended up spending Christmas at home , because I was admitted into a hospital a couple of weeks before the trip. Even though I was discharged in time to go to Port Harcourt, the trip was cancelled. That was the first time , I could remember hearing the phrase ‘’Sickle –Cell Crisis’’.
As I grew older,the expression was used more frequently and for me it meant that I was unable to do all the things that other children did, (at least not when my parents were around!)
By the time I was in Secondary School, I had learnt how to read my body-knew how far I could push myself and what to do when I started to feel unwell.
Most importantly , I learnt how to make sure I did not unwell in the first place. I quickly learnt to like water-it stopped me from getting dehydrated; Glucose-it gave me quick energy bursts and Folic Acid-it kept my blood levels high.
Although my mother was a nurse, my parents did not tell me a lot about sickle cell , except to say that I was ‘’SS’’ and could not take part in all the physical activities that other children did.
Hospitals, injections and various medications became a part of my life, which I quickly got accustomed to.. I also got used to going to various doctors , and my curiosity led me to question them endlessly, desirous to finding out as much a I could.
My father encouraged me to try out whatever I wanted to do. He encouraged me to be adventurous , and as a result of his encouragement, I found myself doing lots of things that my Mum frowned at. Understandably , she knew the risks involved and wanted to protect me as much as she could.
When I was fifteen following lots of fights and pleadings , my parents allowed me to go away to the boarding school to do my A levels. Luckily, as the school was based in my grandmother’s hometown, I was able to persuade them to let me go.
My father was so proud and happy , that he drove 3 hours from Lagos to pick me up at the end of my first term.
At the university, I had a fantastic time. I learnt that it was okay to go out and enjoy myself , as long as I also took time to rest. I would go to parties on Fridays and Saturdays and go home on Sunday to sleep all day. If I was not at home by noon on a Sunday, my father would come to visit.
My roommates looked forward to my father’s visit on a Sunday as much as I did , as it meant home-cooked food.
When I first started going out seriously with a young man , he thought I was rather fussy, as I wouldn’t eat in ‘Bukkas’ and insisted on hygienic restaurant or nothing at all. I also boiled all my water religiously, whereas he was quite happy to drink from the tap.
I had to explain that it wasn’t that I was being fussy, but that I had to be very careful that I didn’t get an infection, a the consequences would be more serious for me because of my health condition.
In addition, when I realized the relationship was becoming serious, I insisted he took a blood test to screen for sickle cell. I am not sure if I would have carried on the relationship if he had a sickle trait, but then, we never had to cross that bridge.
I am thrilled to say that today, I am happily married and have two lovely children(one born by Caesarean, the other by natural delivery). I also have a full time job.
Like anyone, I get ‘’bad’’ days when I am unwell. Everybody needs to rest once in a while , and I have learnt that just need to rest more than other people. I know when I am over-doing things, and I will ‘’check’’ myself into hospital , if need be. That way , I have access to medical intervention , before I go into a full-blown crisis.
I have a solid support network; great friends, who will take care of my children at a moment’s notice, and I am married to a fantastic man who is quick to roll up his sleeves , when I say Iam tired.
At work , my colleagues and bosses are aware of the challenges I favce and I ask for whatever I need to make my work environment more conducive; e.g. a heater or a fan. If my boss is unable to provide it , I will pay for it myself.
I believe I have pretty much the same opportunities as everyone else and I seized every one I can. I enjoy travelling and have done a lot of it, visiting places like Asia, America and the Far East.
It has been said that the life expectancy of ‘sicklers’ is short. I however, made a choice a long time ago to live my life to its fullest regardless of the challenges that I face by being sickle cell anemic. Everybody faces challenges and mine just happens to be a health challenge.
Sickle Cell is a reality in my life but I will not allow it to be a disability. I have lost friends and relations to the disease , but I have been given lots of gifts and talents and I intend to use them all while I can.
Some days are harder than others but each day is a day to live my life to its fullest and glorify God through it. It would be a shame to waste all that God has given me, just because of Sickle Cell.
So, what are the prerequisites for living a full life? The right attitude!
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